Advocacy 2nd Draft

7/21/2019 Advocacy 2nd Draft

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Nguyen 1

Alex Nguyen

Ali M. Meghdadi

English 39C/ Section 33321

February 13 2!1"

An Endless Cycle



Nguyen 2

#he ris$ o% urbani&ation is 'hether 'e ha(e enough o))ortunities and resources %or the

*any i**igrants co*ing to A*erica. +% there are not enough resources such as ,obs or ho*es

both i**igrants and A*ericans 'ill be li(ing a li%e o% )o(erty. -ith not enough )rogra*s and

su))ort it is nearly i*)ossible to reco(er %ro* )o(erty. -ithout ,obs not e(eryone can a%%ord

basic hu*an needs. A recession can and has ha))en in A*erica causing *any A*ericans to lose

their ,obs and beca*e ho*eless. #he *a,or )roble* that causes ho*elessness is %ailure to *eet

%inancial need and )aying ones bill. Natural catastro)hes li$e earthua$es hurricane or %ire can

destroy ho*es and )ut )eo)le into ho*eless )ositions. Fa*ily

brea$do'n and dis)utes sexual and )hysical

abused drugs or alcohol can occur throughout a

)ersons li%e and in%luences 'hether one

beco*es ho*eless. +t is urgent that there

'ill be )rogra*s and su))ort to %ight against

these )roble*s or *a$e ho*eless li(ing

en(iron*ent better. +t is )ossible to sto) )o(erty but in order

to do so0 'e need to su))ort each other. +t

is di%%icult to gather su))ort because o% *isconcei(ed ideas about ho*elessness. #here needs to

be a stronger su))ort syste* %or ho*elessness but in order %or that to ha))en the negati(e (ie's

against ho*eless )eo)le *ust be changed.

eo)le %ear ho*eless o%% the belie%s that they are )anhandlers drug addicts *entally

disabled or (iolent. eo)le associate the idea o% ho*elessness 'ith the characteristics o% la&iness

and hostility. Ma,ority o% A*erican 'ould thin$ it is their %ault %or being )oor and because they

are not resilient enough to get out o% their o'n situation it is their %ault. ust because )eo)le

Figure 1: Factors that cause people to becomehomeless.



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'or$ hard o(erco*e struggles and succeed in sur)assing the )o(erty line does not *ean that

those 'ho are ho*eless did not 'or$ hard. +t does not *ean that they are la&y and did not

o(erco*e struggles. According to aul #oro a )sychology )ro%essor at -ayne State ni(ersity

4#oro %ound that co*)ared to other countries )eo)le 'ho li(e in countries li$e the nited States

that ha(e *ore ca)italistic econo*ies are *ore li$ely to belie(e )ersonal %ailings are the )ri*ary

cause o% ho*elessness and %eel less co*)assion %or ho*eless )eo)le5 6Figueroa7. #hat is not

reality. +t is because o% these ca)italistic and sel%8succeeding ideals that )re(ented others %ro*

understanding or tal$ing to ho*eless )eo)le. #his $no'ledge barrier $ee)s *a,ority o% )eo)le

a'ay %ro* ho*eless )eo)le. #here are )eo)le in society 'ho do not reali&e that these )oor

)eo)le are the sa*e as e(eryone else in the 'orld but born in di%%erent en(iron*ent or because o%

tragic e(ents that ha))ened not because they %ailed. +% the co**unity is *ore a'are o% the cause

%or their lac$ o% a ,ob education or ho*e )eo)le *ight be *ore co*)assionate and thus 'illing

to lend a hand instead o% ha(ing these )reconcei(ed notions about ho*elessness.

o*eless )eo)le are *ore (ulnerable to diseases and drugs 'hich cause a greater strain

on e*ergency ser(ices. Although it ta$es resources to hel) ho*eless )eo)le i% ho*eless )eo)le

are not hel)ed it costs *ore )retending they are in(isible than hel)ing the* %ind a )lace to li(e.

According to :ryce Co(ert an econo*ic )olicy editor #he costs o%

)utting the ho*eless in ,ail %or (iolating ordinances or )utting the* in the hos)ital %or

e*ergency care are three ti*es as ex)ensi(e as hel)ing ho*eless )eo)le %ind a )lace to li(e.

;ne Florida County s)ent *ore than <" *illion o(er a decade ,ailing ,ust 3= ho*eless )eo)le0

on the other hand one a)art*ent co*)lex %or the ho*eless in North Carolina sa(ed <1.>

*illion in its %irst year.



Nguyen 4

#he *oney that is being used to ,ail ho*eless )eo)le and e*ergency care can be instead

used to %ind housing %or ho*eless )eo)le. My solution is not ta$ing *oney %ro* the ,ailing o%

ho*eless )eo)le. My *itigation is to )re(ent ho*eless )eo)le %ro* going to ,ail and )re(ent

ho*eless )eo)le %ro* relying on drugs. +% ho*eless )eo)le are sheltered they 'ould not ha(e to

deal 'ith the unsanitary streets and (iolence. #hey 'ould not need the e*ergency care i% they are

in a sa%e houses. Many ho*eless slee)ing on the street slee) in %ear o% being attac$ed abused

and robbed. Many o% these ho*eless ha(e been sub,ected to )olice harass*ent such as being

un%airly searched and arrested. #he cold hunger %ear lac$ o% )ersonal hygiene da*ages their

*ental and )hysical health. Most do not sho'er or 'ash their clothes because they do ha(e

access to sho'ers or 'ashing *achines. oor housing conditions increase ris$ o% se(ere health

)roble*s by 2" )ercent during childhood and early adulthood. ?i(ing in those conditions 'ould

dri(e a nor*al )erson insane. ;ne 'ay to )re(ent ho*eless )eo)le to catch the eyes o%

)olice*an and rely on drugs is by de(elo)ing a co**unity garden.

A co**unity garden

brings a'areness to those in

the co**unity. @an allotta

board o% the

de(elo)*entally

Figure 3: Not having a community garden increases the chance of obesity, increase stress,kids staying indoors, no appreciation for the simplest of life, no greenery, and poor diet.

Figure 2: A homeless person asking for kindness instead ofmoney because that is hat people only think they ant.



Nguyen 5

disabled said that 4these )eo)le 'ant laughter and co*)assion and they 'ant lo(e5

6allotta7. ;ne 'ay 'e can )ro(ide those as)ects %or the ho*eless is by )ro(iding the* a sense

o% duty. A co**unity garden is a great 'ay 'here e(eryone and anyone can hel) out 'ithout

being ,udged. All 'e need is to )ro(ide seeds 'hich are chea) and a%%ordable and so*e tools. +t

could be old tools or the tools can be i*)ro(ised. #he last thing the co**unity need is a land

that e(eryone can use. +t could be a bac$yard. +t could be )art o% a )ar$. As long as there are

grass and soil it can be con(erted to a garden.

A garden is a good idea because

it )ro(ides )sychological and

beha(ioral bene%its as 'ell as social

and nutritious bene%its. First the )eo)le

gro' their o'n %ood. #he ho*eless )eo)le can

start gro'ing their o'n %ood and )ro(ide

the*sel(es as 'ell as others nutritious %ood. #he sharing o% %ood

bet'een ho*eless )eo)le and others 'ill create a sense o% co*)assion and bond.

According to co**unity gardeners 4Ex)osure to green s)ace reduces stress and increases a

sense o% 'ellness and belonging5 in a co**unity 6:ene%it7. #he co**unity garden brings

)eo)le together regardless o% race age or social class. Social bonding 'ill %or* and then

ho*eless )eo)le 'ill ha(e a sense o% belonging. #his is a %or* o% lo(e that can $ee) the

ho*eless )eo)le %ro* relying on drugs and cri*es. #he co**unity garden also gi(es the* sel%8

estee* and )hysical acti(ity. #he ho*eless 'ill %eel con%ident about the*sel(es because they are

doing so*ething that can hel) the* and hel) others at the sa*e ti*e. #he %eeling o% hel)ing



Nguyen 6

others brings )ositi(e attitude to'ards their li%e es)ecially 'hen others are in(ol(ed. Slo'ly as

*ore )eo)le get in(ol(ed the co**unity 'ill understand that ho*eless )eo)le are ,ust a(erage

)eo)le li$e they are. #hey ha(e t'o eyes t'o ar*s and legs and a sense o% co*)assion ,ust li$e

the*.

#he co**unity garden not only hel)s out the ho*eless but e(eryone else as 'ell. +t

increases neighboring ci(ic )ride and it reduces cri*e rates 4Co**unity gardening is recogni&ed

by *any )olice de)art*ents as an e%%ecti(e co**unity cri*e )re(ention strategy5

6:ene%its7.Co**unity garden )ro(ides

o))ortunities to *eet neighbors and results in

*ore )eo)le on the streets. #he *any )eo)le on the streets act as eyes $ee)ing the co**unity

a'are and sa%e. +t also )re(ents cri*es %ro* ha))ening because )eo)le do not 'ant to be

ex)osed. Cri*es ha))en in the shado's 'here no one can see. +% the cul)rits get caught the

'hole co**unity 'ill $no' and the cul)rit 'ill not be able to li(e in the area any*ore.

4Co**unity gardening is a healthy inex)ensi(e acti(ity %or youth that can bring the* closer to

nature and allo' the* to interact 'ith each other in a socially *eaning%ul and )hysically

)roducti(e 'ay5 6:ene%it7. #his 'ill )ro*ote children to s)end *ore ti*e outside instead o%

inside. +t allo's the* to get )hysical exercise and because o% the )hysical exercises obesity is

reduced. #hese )ositi(e en(iron*ents that the $ids are )artici)ating in )ro*ote a sense o% duty

and res)onsibility that 'ill hel) the* beco*e success%ul. #heir sense o% duty 'ill )ro*ote going

to school and not ditching. #heir res)onsibility 'ill )ro*ote doing ho*e'or$ and learning in

classroo*s.

re !: "aving a community garden has manye#ts. $asier access to fruits and vegetables, physical

vity, volunteer, self%esteem and pride, socialraction, and community safety comes ith having a



Nguyen 7

#he children li(ing 'ith )arents 'ho are

ho*eless are a%%ected by the )oor

en(iron*ent they are in. #hey are 4t'ice as

li$ely as other children to lea(e school 'ithout

any general certi%ication o% secondary education5

6eer7. #his is a )roble* because education is one o%

the solutions to end )o(erty. -ith

less )eo)le beco*ing educated they 'ill

not be able to get higher 'ages to *eet li(ing

ex)enses resulting in *ore )eo)le under the )o(erty line and e(entually beco*ing ho*eless.

According to #he .S. @e)art*ent o% Education 4the nu*ber o% ho*eless students in the nited

States is on the rise and has been %or decades. #heir sur(ey %ound that during the 2!1282!13

school year there 'ere 1.3 *illion ho*eless students in the .S5 6eer7. Education is 'hat 'e

need in this constantly de(elo)ing 'orld. E(ery year ne' technologies co*e out. Educated

)eo)le $no' ho' to use it to bene%it the* 'hereas uneducated )eo)le are una'are and cannot

be e%%icient. Education hel)s de(elo) our reasoning and hel)s )eo)le understand 'hat is right

and 'rong and the conseuences that co*es %ro* their actions. -ithout education there 'ill be

chaos all around. -ith $ids not being able to %ocus in school they 'ill not de(elo) the necessary

s$ills to be success%ul in their li%e and 'ill end u) ho*eless the*sel(es. +t is a re)eating cycle o%

)o(erty and ho*elessness. #hat is 'hy i*)ro(ing the en(iron*ent by incor)orating a

co**unity garden 'ill boost not only the ho*eless )arents but also their $ids as 'ell. #he

)arents in(ol(e*ent in the co**unity 'ill be a )ositi(e role *odel %or their $ids. #he $ids 'ill



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be in(ol(ed in the co**unity as 'ell and learn res)onsibility and duty that 'ill e(entually lead

the* to great success.

eo)le Assisting the o*eless 6A#7 'as created by si*)ly 'riting a letter to the

co**unity. Attendance 'as not *andatory and (oluntary. ! )eo)le sho'ed u) and they had a

discussion on ho' to hel) )eo)le 'ho 'ere ho*eless in their neighborhood. #he grou) started

distributing %ood and clothing to those on the street. Anyone can ta$e the initiati(es to hel)

others. -riting a letter is chea) and )utting it in a *ailbox is easy. ;nce so*e su))orters gather

it is )ossible to gather so*e extra su))lies e(eryone do not use and donate it to the ho*eless.

Another 'ay to hel) the ho*eless i% ti*e is an issue is through social *edia. Social *edia is a

great 'ay to s)read a'areness %or those ex)eriencing ho*elessness. +t is %ree and e%%ecti(e.

.A.#. has a Faceboo$ #'itter Bou#ube +nstagra* and a blog. +t only ta$es a *inute to clic$

a button to share $no'ledge 'ith %riends and the 'orld. An hour a day can be used to )re)are

lunch %or ho*eless. :rings %riends and *a$e this an en,oyable ex)erience. An hour a day is

enough ti*e to organi&e a hygiene $it %or those li(ing on the streets. An hour a day can get a

)erson started %undraising. A day can get a )erson in(ol(ed in A# and (olunteer or interning.

#hrough A# it is )ossible to hire house or hel) ho*eless. utting ho*eless to 'or$ brings

great )ositi(e de(elo)*ent in a ho*eless li(es. +% you ha(e extra s)ace it is )ossible to house

the*. @onating can be as easy as a sending an e*ail.

+t is easier to *a$e assu*)tions about a )erson then getting to $no' the*. +t is i*)ortant

that 'e change these )reconcei(ed notions o% ho*elessness. +n order to change the assu*)tion

*ade an increase in a'areness is necessary. a(ing a co**unity garden is a ste))ing stone in

a'areness and understanding. A co**unity garden not only i*)ro(es the li(es o% ho*eless

)eo)le but also the li(es o% the co**unity. :y ha(ing a co**unity garden ho*eless )eo)le 'ill



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)artici)ate in *ore co**unity assign*ents and 'ill create social bonds that 'ill hel) the* in

their li%e. Co**unity unity and )eo)les 'illingness to be in(ol(ed 'ill a%%ect other

co**unities )ro*oting an endless do*ino e%%ect o% understanding and unity.

:ibliogra)hy

About School Dardening. About School Dardening. N.). n.d. -eb. 2! Feb. 2!1".

:ene%its o% Co**unity Dardening. :ene%its o% Co**unity Dardening. N.). n.d. -eb. 1>

Feb. 2!1".

Co**unity Dardens. Centers %or @isease Control and re(ention. Centers %or @isease Control

and re(ention !3 une 2!1!. -eb. 1> Feb. 2!1".

Co(ert :ryce. #he Do(ern*ent +s ro(ing #hat o*elessness +s A Sol(able

roble*. #hin$rogress SS. N.). 2> Aug. 2!1. -eb. 11 Feb. 2!1".

aslo' yan. Co**unity Dardening Could Carry ealth :ene%its. C:SNe's. C:S

+nteracti(e 22 A)r. 2!13. -eb. 1> Feb. 2!1".

o*elessness 1!1. o*elessness 1!1 G Coalition. N.). n.d. -eb. 2! Feb. 2!1".

allotta @an. 4#he 'ay 'e thin$ about charity is dead 'rong. #E@. Mar. 2!13. ?ecture



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eer Harisa. +tIs a ard8Hnoc$ ?i%e %or sJ o*eless ChildrenIs +n(isibility in .S. Schools

and :eyond K o(erty +nsights. +tIs a ard8Hnoc$ ?i%e %or sJ o*eless

ChildrenIs +n(isibility in .S. Schools and :eyond K o(erty +nsights. N.). 1" @ec. 2!1.

-eb. 13 Feb. 2!1".

Sigel :ernie. :ernie Siegel M.@. :ernie Siegel M@. N.). n.d. -eb. 2! Feb. 2!1".

-hat +s +t li$e to :e o*elessL 8 Shelter England. N.). n.d. -eb. 13 Feb. 2!1".

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